Lichen Sclerosus

(atrophic vulvitis)

Epidemiology:

• Post-menopausal usually
• Unknown etiology
• Likely autoimmune

Common sites:

Gross features:

• Pale gray, parchment-like skin
• Labia atrophied
• Narrowed introitus

Histologic features:

• thin epidermis
• loss of rete pegs
• hydropic degeneration at basal layer
• sclerotic superficial stroma with paucity of inflammatory cells
• band-like lymphocytic infiltrate
• plugging of follicles

Immunophenotype:

Marker:

Sensitivity:

Specificity:

Molecular features:

Other features:

• not considered a premalignant lesion, although 1-4% may develop subsequent malignancy
• precursor to differentiated VIN (simplex)
• slowly progressive usually

References:

• Kumar V, Fausto N, Abbas A. Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Seventh Edition. 7th ed. Saunders; 2004.